Hydrokinetic torque converter



Filed Sept. 3, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR /a/PP/s M70/51?.

M@ ATTORNEY 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 M. KATCHER Filed Sept. 3, 1943 NVENTOR //qf/.f Hrm/5 ATTORNEY HYDRO-KINETIC TORQUE CONVERTER Nov. 6, 1945.

NOV. 6, 1945. M KATCHER 2,388,418

HYDRO-KINETIC TORQUE CONVERTER Filed sept. 5, 1943 5 sheets-sheet S Med/'um speed l /h/e 37 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Nov. 6, 1945. M KATCHER I HYDRO-KINETIC TORQUE CONVERTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 3, 1943 INVENTOR Waffe/5 /mv/f?.

A TToR NE Y sion.

Patented Nov. 6, 1945 UNITED STATES .PATENT OFFICE HYDROKINETIC TORQUE CONVERTER Morris Katcher, New York, N. Y. Application September 3, 1943, Serial No. 501,096

(Cl. Gil-54) 8 Claims.

This invention lrelates to a torque converter. It is an object of the invention to provide hydraulic means which is particularly adapted to be used in hydraulic transmission devices for automobiles or the like (airplanes, boats etc.) and to provide improved means for circulating the operating fluid whereby the speed ratio between the driving shaft of the engine and the traction wheels or driving element of the automobile or vehicle may be varied to meet the various load conditions, so that the engine may be maintained at a comparatively constant speed and efficiently operated.

The rotor of my device comprises a plurality of annular channels of various radii through which the fluid is caused to pass selectively. The channels contain vanes. When the fluid is forced to ow through the outermost channel at a given rate, because of the greater leverage and circumferential distance traveled by the channel in its rotation, a greater torque is exerted and at lower speed than for channels located radially inward for the same rate of fiow. It corresponds to the low speed or low gear drive of a gear transmis- The uid is forced through the rotor by. means of an impeller or pump which is driven by' the` engine. A selective guide member is located intermediate of the pump and the rotor. Said member is provided with a, plurality of passages or conduits which are adapted to be set manually so that the fluid may be directed to pass at will fromthe pump to any of said annular channels. When the fluid isdirected to pass through the radially innermost channel the result corresponds to the high speed or high gear drive of a gear transmission. One of the channels has its vanes inclined in the opposite direction from those of other channels, which produces a reverse drive. In still another channel, the vanes are so set that the flow of fluid produces no driving action. This is neutral. If desired, the neutral channel may be without vanes.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent upon further study of the description and drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan of the torque converter shown in place in the chassis of an automotive vehicle, said chassis being shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a plan of the steeringwheel of an automotive vehicle with the control portion of my device.

I shaft 3|.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the steering wheel and said control portion.

converter.

Fig. 5 is a cross section of the device taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a cross section of the device taken along the line 6--6 of Fig. 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the selective guide member removed from the device, with all inlets broken away except that for the low speed conduit.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the selective guide member removed from the device, with all inlets broken away except that for the highspeed conduit.

Fig. 9 is a developed plan of the high speed conduit, the up and down direction on the drawings corresponding to the axial direction of the device.

Fig. 10 is a developed duit taken as in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a developed plan of the medium speed conduit taken as in Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a developed plan of the reverse conduit taken as in Fig. 9.

Fig.` 13 is a developed plan of the low speed conduit taken as in Fig. 9.

Crankshaft 3l of motor 30, Figs. 1 and 4, is enclosed in motor housing 29. Attached to said housing by bolts 34 is housing 33 of the torque converter. Crankshaft 3| extends into housing 33 where it is provided with a bearing 38 near its end. The end of shaft 3| is recessed to provide a bearing 35 for one end of driven shaft 36 of the converter. The other end of shaft 36 is supported in bearing 3l at the rear end of housing l5. Liquid tight seal 28 prevents escape of uid from housing 33 along crankshaft 3|, while liquid tight seal 39 prevents escape of fluid from the other end of said housing along shaft 36. As is usual in motor vehicles, a starting gear 32 is xed to crankshaft 3|, which gear is engaged by the starting mechanism, not shown. A collar 40 is psrovided for streamlining the fluid past bearing 3 Impeller wheel 4| is iixedly mounted on crank- This wheel has vanes 21 after the manner of the impeller of a centrifugal pump. Impeller wheel 4| has its intake at 26 and discharges its fluid into volute 42 which forms part of housing 33. The discharge opening of volute 42 is located at 43, the discharge being axial. Housing 33, with volute 42, to the left of joint 25, is stationary. Housing 44, around selective guide plan of the neutral conmember 24, and about rotor 66 and housing 15 about return balles 16 are fastened to each other with housing 44 attached to housing 33 and volute 42. All of said housings are mounted on the chassis of the vehicle or other body -carrying motor 30.

Fluid from discharge opening 43 of the volute enters the selective guide member 24, that is enters oneconduit thereof. In the particular embodiment of the invention shown herein, the guide member is provided with five conduits. They are, Figs. 9-13, the low speed conduit 6|, reverse conduit 62, medium or second speed conduit 63, neutral conduit 64 and high speed conduit 65. One end of each conduit can be set, by revolving guide member 24, opposite opening 43 to receive the fluid therefrom. The other end of each conduit when so set comes opposite its corresponding annular compartment of rotor 66. In Fig. 4 the low speed conduit 6| is in operative position, one end 86 being set opposite opening 43 thereby receiving fluid from the pump, while its opposite end is set to discharge into the low speed compartment 61 of rotor 66.

In order to enable guide member 24 to be revolved-into its various positions for the purpose noted above, said member is rotatably mounted inside of housing 44, four roller bearings 55 being provided for this. Rotor 66 is lxedly mounted on converter or driven shaft 36, which is connected by coupling 58 and 59 to drive shaft 60, Fig. l. Said rotor has iive annular compartments corresponding to conduits 6I-6'5. These compartments are low speed compartment 61, reverse compartment 68, medium or second speed compartment 69, neutral compartment 16 and high speed compartment 1|.

Each of said compartments is provided with vanes or blades 8| as shown in Figs. 9-13, against which the moving fluid reacts to cause motion of the rotor except in the case of blades 8| of neutral compartment 10. In the case of compartments 61, 69 and 1l the blades are inclined in a direction corresponding to forward motion of the vehicles driven by the motor. In the case of reverse compartment 68, the blades are ,inclined in the opposite direction so that when the fluid reacts against them the vehicle is driven in reverse. In the case of neutral compartment 10, the blades are set so that the fluid passes through without inducing any rotation of rotor 66. Rotor 66 has :lub 51 keyed to shaft 36. Spokes 56 extend from hub 51 to the inner wall 12 of the rotor. Wall 12 defines a return chamber 13 for the fluid. In line with wall 12. is the wall 46 of selective guide member 24l providing a return chamber 14 as a continuation of return chamber 13. In line with rotor compartments 61-1| are spaces defined by annular return baliles 16-66.

The entire space inside of housings 42, 44 and is filled with iiuid except for a small space at the top to provide for expansion of the fluid due to heating.

When impeller 4| is rotated by motor shaft 3l, liquid is forced out of outlet 43 into the particular conduit of the conduits 6I-65 which has its inlet end set opposite said outlet. As will be explained, mechanism is provided for setting the inlet end of any of said conduits opposite outlet 43 for receiving and guiding the fluid to rotor 66. As shown in Fig. 4, the inlet end 86 of conduit 6I is set opposite pump outlet 43. The outlet end of conduit 6| discharges into the low speed compartment 61 of rotor 66, causing the latter to rotate shaft 36 with high torque but low speed.

After leaving compartment 61, the uid is directed by baffles 16 and 11 against the rear wall of housing 15 which is so curved as to send the uid back axially into return chambers 13 and 14 back to the inlet 26 of impeller wheel 4|.

If the inlet 90 of conduit 65 were set opposite pump outlet 43, the uid would be guided into the high speed compartment 1| and in passing out therefrom be deflected back by baiile and the rear Wall of housing 15 into return chambers 13 and 14 to the inlet of the pump or impeller.

In a similar manner, the setting of the inlet opening of the other conduits opposite the pump or impeller outlet, causes the uid to pass through their corresponding compartments of the rotor.

As has been already noted, selective guide member 24 is rotatably mounted inside of housing 44, to enable the several inlets of its conduits 6|-65 to be set opposite outlet 43 of the pump. The setting mechanism in the particular embodiment thereof shown herein comprises a threaded pulley 82 provided at the forward end of wall 46 on its outside, which pulley is engaged by several turns of endless cable 83. The runs of the cable pass out through the housing of the converter and over a pulley 41, Fig. 1, located near the floor of the vehicle not far from steering post 84. Concentric with pulley 41 and fixed thereto is gear wheel 48 whose teeth engage the teeth of gear sector 49. The other end of gear sector 49 is fixed to the bottom of shaft 50 rotatably mounted on steering post 64. The upper end of shaft 50 has hand lever 5| xed to it. Hand lever 5| slides under indexed quadrant 52, the latter being flxedly mounted on steering post 84 just under steering wheel 53. The position of hand lever 5| on quadrant`52 indicates the setting of the selective guide member.' As lever 5| is rotated, sector 49 rotates gear 48. and with it pulley 41, causing cable 83 to rotate pulley 62 and selectiv a'. guide member 24.

The terms, pulley, pulley means, and cable as. used in the claims are considered as equivalent to a chain and sprockets.

The various inlets of selective guide m'ember 24 are seen in Fig. 6, but their connections to their various conduits are only 'partially indicated. It can be readily understood, however, that the reverse inlet 68 connects with conduit 62, neutral inlet 81 with conduit 64, low speed inlet 86 with conduit 6I, medium speed inlet 89 with conduit 63 and high speed inlet 90 with conduit 65. The radial depth of the annular portion of conduits 6|-65 and their corresponding rotor compartments 61-1l increases the nearer they are to their axis of rotation. This offsets their decreasing. circumferential length so that they offer substantially the same capacity for the flow of liquid through them.

I claim: Y

l. In a hydro-kinetic torque converter, a motor driven pump, a movably mounted selective guide member for receiving the fluid from the pump, a rotor divided into a plurality of annular compartments of various radii, said member having a plurality of conduits, each of said conduits continuously communicating at one end with a corresponding one of said compartments and adapted to be set at its other end opposite the outlet of the pump, each conduit leading iiuid from the pump to its corresponding compartment when said other end is set opposite said outlet, said rotor being driven by the flow of the fluid throughthe compartment selected, and means for setting the guide member,

2. In a hydro-kinetic torque converter, a motor driven rotary pump, a rotatably mounted selective guide member for receiving the iiuid from the pump, a rotor divided into a plurality of annular compartments of various radii, the pump, guide member and rotor having their axes of rotation in substantial alignment, said member having a plurality of conduits, each of said conduits continuously communicating at one end with a corresponding one of said compartments and when set at its other end in register with the outlet of the pump, leading the fluid to said one ofv said compartments, said rotor being driven by the iiow of the fluid through the compartment selected, and means for setting the guide mempump, a rotor divided into a plurality of annular compartments of various radii, said member having a plurality of conduits, each yof said conduits continuously communicating atone end with a corresponding one of said compartments mounted casing enclosing the pump, guide member and rotor, said casing having a portion extending beyond the rotor for receiving the dis.- charge therefrom, the guide member and rotor having a central passage extending through them in alignment with the intake of the pump, said portion directing the iiuid yfrom the rotor 'radiany inward and backward through said passage to the intake of the pump.

6. In a hydro-kinetic torque converter, a ro*- tary pump having a discharge orice and having its impeller mounted on the crank shaft of a motor and driven thereby, a rotor mounted on a driven,shaft and driving the latter, the driven shaft being rotatably mounted in alignment with said crank shaft, a selective guide member rotatably mounted upon one of said shafts intermediate the pump and the rotor, said rotor being ,divided into a plurality of annular compartments of various radii, said guide member havindividually being adapted to receive substantially the full discharge from the oriiice of the pump and to guide fluid so received to a parand adapted to be set at its other end opposite i the outlet of the pump, each conduit' leading fluid from the pump to said one l of said compartments when said other end isset opposite said outlet, means for setting the guide member, and a deiiection member formed to receive the iluid from the rotor and to deflect it radially inward and axially back through a center passa/ge provided in the rotor and guide member tothe inlet of the pump.

4. In a hydro-kinetic torque converter, a motorV driven pump, a rotatably mounted selective guide member for receiving the fluid from the dis- .charge orifice of the pump, a rotor divided into register, each of said passages leading from a particular inlet to a particular chamber, and

Ameans for rotating the guide member to set any of said inlets in register with the orice for selectively guiding the fluid from the pump into any of said compartments, said rotor being actuated in accordance with the ilow of the fluid through the compartment selected.

5. In'a hydro-kinetic torque converter, a motor driven pump, a'selective guide member for receiving the fluid from the discharge orifice of the pump, a rotor divided into a plurality of annular compartments of various radii, said guide member being adapted to guide the fluid from the pump into any of said compartments in accordance with the relative setting of said member with respect to said orifice, said rotor being actuated in accordance with the ilow or the uid through the compartment selected, means for effecting said relative setting and a xedly ticular compartment in accordanceA with its relative rotation with respect to said orifice, said rotor being actuated in accordance with the flow of the fluid through the compartment receiving in a motor driven vehicle, a motor driven pump,

a selective guide member for receiving the fluid from the discharge orifice of the pump, a rotor divided into a plurality of annular compartments of various radii, said guide member having a plurality of conduits, each conduit .being adapted to guide the rl-uid from the pump. into aselected compartment in accordance with the relative setting of said member with respect to said oriice, said rotor being actuated in accordance with the'flow of the fluid through the comparte ment selected and mechanism extending from said guide means substantially to the steering means of the vehicle for effecting said relative setting.

8. In a hydro-kinetic torque converter -f0r use in a motor driven vehicle, a motor driven pump. a rotatively mounted selective guide member for receiving the uid from the discharge orice 0f with respect to said oriice, said rotor :beins actuated in accordance with .the ilow of the iluid through the compartment receiving the fluid at any time, mechanism extending from, the guide member to a location substantially adjacent the steerlngpost of the vehicle for rotating saidv member and means substantially adjacent the steering wheel of the vehicle for manually operating said mechanism.

MORRIS KA'ICHEB. 

